#8 SBU BEARCATS (5-1)  vs. HENDERSON STATE REDDIES (2-2)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009 • 8:00 PM
#8 SBU BEARCATS vs DALLAS BAPTIST PATRIOTS (1-2)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2009 • 6:00 PM
SBU THANKSGIVING CLASSIC • MEYER SPORTS CENTER • BOLIVAR, MO

LIVE STATS: www.sidearmstats.com/sbuniv/mbball/
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SBU NOTES | THANKSGIVING CLASSIC

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The Bearcats will renew a Thanksgiving tradition when they host the SBU Thanksgiving Classic on November 27 and 28. Both the SBU men's and women's teams will host three squads for the Classic, with the Emporia State, Henderson State and Dallas Baptist men coming to Bolivar. The game against the DBU Patriots will be a rematch from last week's 102-84 Bearcat victory in Dallas. The Bearcats will look to extend the nation's second longest active Division II home court winning streak, which now stands at 31 games. SBU has not lost at home since February 12, 2007. After a tough loss at Drury, SBU has bounced back to win two straight, with an average margin of victory of 20 points.

Matt Rogers continues to lead the way, averaging 21.7 points a game, good for third-most in the MIAA this season. Rogers scored 23 points in each of the three SBU games last week. Junior point guard Tomas Brock has been in control of the Bearcats' high-powered offense, with 6.2 assists per game, as well as a 2.6 assist-to-turnover ration, each of which rank third in the MIAA. Junior Thijin Moses continues to contribute as well, averaging 20.7 points over three games last week, including an SBU season-high 32 points against Dallas Baptist. The Bearcats are scorching the nets as a team, shooting 52% from the field and 45% from three-point range.

THE COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Jeff Guiot is in his sixth season with the Bearcats and continues to guide teams to success. He's 112-44 (.718) at SBU and is 330-137 in 16 seasons overall at all divisions. He's never had a losing season in those fifteen years, has won 20 or more games ten times and led teams to a conference title eight times.
   
Henderson State head coach Sam Weaver begins his fourth season on the Reddies' bench. Weaver led Henderson State to an NCAA Tournament appearance in his first year, but the Reddies have struggled as of late, finishing with a 5-21 record a year ago. Also in his fourth season is Blake Flickner, coach of the Dallas Baptist Patriots. Flickner has recorded a 63-43 record during his time at DBU, including a trip to the NCAA Tournament last year, the first in the school's history. After a 24-7 record and an upset win in the first round of the South Central Regional, Flickner was named Heartland Conference Coach of the Year.
   
SBU leads the all-time series against Henderson State, 5-3, although the two sides have matched up only once over the last 15 years; their last meeting was a Reddies win in 2006, in a tournament at Quincy University. The series with Dallas Baptist doesn't exactly have a lot of history either; before meeting in last year's NCAA Regional, SBU had only faced off against DBU once, back in 1972. With last week's victory over the Patriots, the Bearcats took a 2-1 lead in the series.

SCOUTING THE THANKSGIVING CLASSIC OPPONENTS
Henderson State has gotten off to a 2-2 start this season, after a nail-biting win against Incarnate Word on Tuesday. The Reddies have a balanced attack, as three players have already been the team's high scorer only four games into the season. Seniors Vincent Patterson (17.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Kyle Oldham (16.3 ppg), as well as junior forward Lance Smith (15.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg) carry the load for Henderson State.
   
The Dallas Baptist program is in their fourth year of NCAA Division II basketball. After last year's record-breaking campaign, DBU has gotten off to a slow start, with losses against Tarleton State and SBU. The Patriots are still the favorites in the Heartland Conference, however, and are led by guards Braxton Adamson and Bryan Baumann. In '08-09, DBU finished third in D-II in three-point percentage at 42.4%, and 12th in scoring at 88 ppg. Keep an eye out for sophomore guard Jordan McGowen as well. Against the Bearcats last week, McGowen had a team high 23 points and nine rebounds, while shooting 9-for-15 from the field.
    
NEXT UP FOR THE BEARCATS
The MIAA season starts with a bang next week, as the Bearcats travel to Warrensburg to face the Central Missouri Mules on Wednesday night. Expected to be a matchup of two teams ranked in the top 10 in the nation, this will be the first trip to Central Missouri since last season's defeat against the Mules in the Sweet 16. The Mules return three starters from last season's Final Four team, including senior forward Sanjay Watts. Watts leads the team with 22 points per game, as well as 8.7 rebounds per game. The Bearcats then return home to host the Missouri Baptist Spartans on Saturday, December 5. The NAIA school went 12-18 last season, and has started out 3-5 this year. The Spartans rank in the top 25 in NAIA Division I in scoring (78.0 ppg), rebounding (36.9 rpg), and steals (8.1 spg). Senior guard Brandon Roberson is fifth in the NAIA, with 20 points per game.